This approach is already gaining a promising local foothold in the region where the Democratic Party should look for inspiration, talent and electoral votes: the Mountain West.
Three Mountain time zone states that voted for Bush in 2004 (Montana, New Mexico and Arizona) have Democratic governors who have moved in this direction. They balance budgets, embrace gun rights and display the kind of salty tolerance that resonates far better with Western tradition than the touchy-feely identity politics of the West Coast.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a leading 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, has slashed taxes, challenged public-sector unions and championed charter schools. Montana's Democratic governor, Brian Schweitzer, a gun-toting farmer, has won massive popularity in a deeply red state with his pragmatic environmentalism and emphasis on energy production. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has stolen GOP thunder by embracing school choice.
These three governors have been talking to Democratic leaders about creating a "Western primary day," encompassing as many as eight states, during the next presidential election cycle. Though the number of electoral votes -- 44 during the 2004 election -- would pale in comparison to the South's Super Tuesday, it would nevertheless be impossible to ignore. The Mountain West is the fastest-growing region in the country and home to a traditional skepticism of government that the national party only seems to remember when it's out of power.
Democrats have already seen how far they can't go under the leadership of East Coast Brahmins and Southern Bubbas. A little ranch-flavored pragmatism for a change might go a long way.
And it might give a fleeting glimmer of hope to those of us who don't think the solution to Big Government is more of the same.
